Right path to power

Seeing the other party's businesslike attitude, Hong Tao stopped being polite and said, "I just had a drink and sang some songs. I didn't do anything like murder or arson. We're all old acquaintances. Aren't you even going to give me this much face?"

At this moment, Xiao Cong also stood up and stepped forward, putting his arm around the other man's left shoulder, and said, reeking of alcohol, "Old Guan, brothers, you've worked hard, still working overtime so late, how about..."

The man who arrived was Guan Dawei, who had recently become the captain of the county's criminal investigation team. He subconsciously took a step back to avoid Xiao Cong's arm, and then said in a serious tone, "Old Xiao, I have official duties to perform, please cooperate."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Cong's face immediately darkened, and the rough flesh on his face trembled a few times. He said with a forced smile, "Old Guan, we've investigated, and none of them are bad people. I think we should let bygones be bygones. After all, we'll see each other all the time."

Lu Xiaopeng then took out a cigarette and handed it over, saying, "Captain Guan, you saw it too. It's just a few of us having a drink here. There aren't any other people around. You've done your job well. Hurry up and check the next private room. That way, the brothers can go back and rest earlier."

"As required by the special operation, all public officials must register their names and work units. Also, your kind of paid companionship is illegal and must be dealt with according to the law."

Lu Xiaopeng didn't recognize the girl who peeked out from next to Guan Dawei. Seeing that she was dressed casually, he assumed she was a TV reporter or something, so he smiled and said, "Little sister, you're from the TV station, right? I know your station director, Mr. Lü, very well. I'll give him a call right now..."

"Excuse me, I'm Hu Qingqing from the County Government's Inspection Office. If you have any thoughts, you can call our Director Lin or Director You."

"Well……"

Lu Xiaopeng was speechless for a moment, and even felt a breath stuck in his throat. If it had been stuck for any longer, he might not have been able to breathe properly.

Damn, what a small world!

When Hong Tao heard that it was from the Inspection Office, he jumped up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, shouting, "What does our drinking and singing have to do with the Inspection Office? Are we bothering Director Lin? Don't even mention him, not even the Emperor himself can tell me what to do with drinking and singing. And don't think everyone's afraid of him, I don't buy it."

Hu Qingqing said coldly, "If ordinary people are drinking and singing here, of course we won't interfere, nor do we have the right to. But if public officials are involved in paid companionship, then that falls within our jurisdiction. Of course, I'm just making a record of the relevant situation and then submitting it to the relevant departments for processing."

Xiao Cong glared at Hu Qingqing and said coldly, "You think you can just say whatever you want? Is it not allowed for us to entertain investors here?"

Hu Qingqing pursed her lips and didn't bother to pay any more attention.

Guan Dawei said, "Gentlemen, please cooperate with us in registering your identity information. Tonight is a county-wide operation. The County Discipline Inspection Commission and the County Party Committee and County Government Supervision Office will be monitoring the entire process. Everyone must act in accordance with the law. Please don't make things difficult for us; it's all just work."

Having come this far, despite their helplessness, Lu Xiaopeng and Xiao Cong still filled in their personal information in the registration book.

However, they weren't really acting because of Guan Dawei's words, but because they knew that Guan Dawei was Xu Jingnan's confidant and would definitely not give them any face.

So they had no choice but to cooperate for the time being, and wait for reinforcements to come and deal with it later.

Fengshan County is such a small place; no matter which supervisory office it is, it can't cover up everything.

At this moment, a police officer came over and reported that several couples were found to be involved in prostitution and drug use in other private rooms.

Guan Dawei's expression changed, and he felt as if a timely rain had come. He then ordered everyone to be taken back for investigation and questioning.

To be honest, if it were just about hiring a few pretty girls to accompany someone for drinks, the situation would be relatively minor, in other words, it wouldn't do anything serious. But now that it's been discovered that prostitution and drugs are involved, the problem has immediately become serious. Everyone present is now in a difficult situation, and we can only wait for the investigation to be completed before making any further decisions.

"Captain Guan, we don't need to. We don't look like drug users."

Lu Xiaopeng discussed that this was a crucial time for him. While his father-in-law was still in office, he needed to find a way to advance further. Although he hadn't really done anything wrong, it would still have a negative impact if word got out.

"No, the county party committee and county government have regulations that stipulate that any violations of rules and regulations must be investigated. If the investigation is successful, then there will be no problem; if the investigation is unsuccessful, then the case will be handed over to the relevant departments for handling."

Hu Qingqing poked her head out again and said, "Why does it feel like she and Guan Dawei are working together, putting on a double act?"

Actually, to be precise, both of them handled the matter impartially.

So Guan Dawei continued, "Secretary Lu, you've seen it too. It's not that I don't want to help, but the Supervision Office is watching us, so we can only follow the rules. Please come back with us to cooperate with the investigation."

Hong Tao, who had been silent all along, finally jumped out and said angrily, "Guan, what's the big deal? You won't even give me this much face? Do you think that now that Xu Jingnan is in power, no one can deal with you? Let me tell you, don't be too arrogant. Arrogance can easily lead to self-harm. You should think it over carefully, or I guarantee you won't be able to hold onto your position as captain for long."

Guan Dawei couldn't help but laugh and said, "Hong Tao, you have quite the nerve. And do you even know that openly threatening public officials is illegal? Besides, I really don't believe you can do anything to me. I advise you to cooperate, otherwise, don't blame me for taking coercive measures against you."

After saying that, he turned to Xiao Cong and said in a deep voice, "Old Xiao, you know the rules, so I don't need to say more."

Although the two are at the same level, there is still a certain difference in their actual status and power. Or rather, the criminal police captain is more valued. But the key is that Xiao Cong has a bad reputation in the system and his behavior is crude. Guan Dawei doesn't have a good impression of him at all. With all these reasons combined, he is even less likely to give him face.

As for Lu Xiaopeng, he had heard of this person before and knew that he was the eldest son-in-law of Hong Feng, the executive deputy county head, but tonight was the first time they had met. Moreover, he was holding the "imperial sword" in his hand, with Xu Jingnan and Lin Xiao standing behind him, so he went forward without hesitation.

"Wait a minute, let me make a call first." Xiao Cong's face was grim, but he still held a sliver of hope.

Who do you want to call?

"What? Is it not allowed?"

"Fine, go ahead and hit me!"

Xiao Cong took out his phone and dialed a number, but no one answered for a long time.

"What's wrong? Didn't you get through?"

Guan Dawei said with a half-smile, and seeing a hint of helplessness on Xiao Cong's face, he continued, "Old Xiao, to say something you don't like to hear, it's no use calling any deputy director now, because Director Xu is personally overseeing the command center tonight."

Knowing that Xiao Cong had a close relationship with Zhang Tong, the deputy director of the county bureau, he guessed that Xiao Cong had just made a phone call to Zhang Tong.

"you……"

As Guan Dawei had guessed, the call he made earlier was indeed to Deputy Director Zhang Tong, but the call was immediately hung up, leaving Xiao Cong dumbfounded.

At first, he had some doubts after seeing Guan Dawei's actions tonight, but he still couldn't understand why the county had suddenly made such a big move tonight. Now he felt that something was wrong.